Systems and methods for personalized dining and individualized ordering by associating electronic device with dining session

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are disclosed for managing personalized dining checks created by individualized ordering enabled by associating mobile devices of patrons and waiters with table indicia. One method includes: receiving information identifying the user devices of one or more patrons and information identifying a table indicia as a result of associating the user devices of the one or more patrons with a table indicia; initiating a dining session based on information identifying user devices and information identifying a table indicia; receiving requests for dining items and transaction amounts for the dining items from the user devices, each request including information identifying the user device and the table indicia; receiving information confirming the delivery of dining items to the patrons; determining final transaction amount for the requested dining items; sending final transaction amount to the user devices and enabling the user devices to send a payment authorization; receiving a payment transaction authorization from the user devices to transact funds to pay for the final transaction amount using predetermined payment methods; and processing the payment transaction using the payment transaction authorization.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of paymenttransactions and, more particularly, to managing payment transactionsrelated to orders at dining venues.

BACKGROUND

Patrons at a food and/or beverage dining establishment may often beburdened with several responsibilities that may interfere with thesocial and/or epicurean aspect of their dining experience. For example,patrons may often have to wait to be seated by a waiter, to be handedmenus, to order food and/or beverage items, to receive final checks,and/or to submit final payments. Patrons may often be burdened with thetask of calculating final payments and added tip, gratuity, and/orservice fee costs.

Similarly, waiters at a food and/or beverage dining establishment may beburdened with myriad tasks that consume their time, attention, andefficiency, and/or which negatively impact the bottom line revenue andcost for the dining establishment. These tasks may include, but are notlimited to, seating patrons, delivering menus, taking orders,communicating orders to the kitchen staff, picking up completed foodand/or beverage items from the kitchen staff, remembering the variousordered food and/or beverage items and the patrons that ordered them,delivering completed food and/or beverage items to the patrons, keepingtrack of the bills accrued for each patron and/or group of patrons,submitting the final check to the patrons, receiving payment from thepatrons, and/or otherwise attending to the needs of patrons and/orkitchen staff.

Likewise, the kitchen staff at a food and/or beverage diningestablishment are also faced with the burdensome tasks of receiving theorders to prepare, cook, and/or create the ordered food and/or beverageitems, including orders regarding prioritization of the food and/orbeverage orders, and communicating to the waiter regarding completedfood and/or beverage items or issues related to the preparation of thefood and/or beverage items.

Thus, there is a desire for a system and method for facilitatingcommunication between the patrons, waiters, and kitchen staff, andalleviating the above burdensome tasks from the patrons, waiter, andkitchen staff. There is also a desire for a personalized diningmanagement system that may automatically keep account of the food and/orbeverage items ordered by patrons and the bills accrued as a result ofthe orders, and that may deliver final checks to the patrons and enablethe payment thereof.

SUMMARY

According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, systems andmethods are disclosed for managing personalized dining checks created byindividualized ordering enabled by associating user devices and tableindicia.

In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method is disclosed formanaging personalized dining checks created by individualized orderingenabled by associating user devices and table indicia. The methodincludes: receiving information identifying the user devices of one ormore patrons and information identifying a table indicia as a result ofassociating the user devices of the one or more patrons with a tableindicia; initiating a dining session based on information identifyinguser devices and information identifying a table indicia; receivingrequests for dining items and transaction amounts for the dining itemsfrom the user devices, each request including information identifyingthe user device and the table indicia; receiving information confirmingthe delivery of dining items to the patrons; determining a finaltransaction amount for the requested dining items; sending the finaltransaction amount to the user devices and enabling the user devices totransmit a payment authorization request; receiving a paymenttransaction authorization from the user devices to transact funds to payfor the final transaction amount using predetermined payment methods;and processing the payment transaction using the payment transactionauthorization.

In accordance with another embodiment, a system is disclosed formanaging personalized dining checks created by individualized orderingenabled by associating user device and table indicia. The systemcomprises: a data storage device storing instructions for managingpersonalized dining checks created by individualized ordering enabled byassociating user device and table indicia; and a processor configuredfor: receiving information identifying the user devices of one or morepatrons and information identifying a table indicia as a result ofassociating the user devices of the one or more patrons with a tableindicia; initiating a dining session based on information identifyinguser devices and information identifying a table indicia; receivingrequests for dining items and transaction amounts for the dining itemsfrom the user devices, each request including information identifyingthe user device and the table indicia; receiving information confirmingthe delivery of dining items to the patrons; determining a finaltransaction amount for the requested dining items; transmitting thefinal transaction amount to the user devices and enabling the userdevices to transmit a payment authorization request; receiving a paymenttransaction authorization request from the user devices to transactfunds to pay for the final transaction amount using predeterminedpayment methods; and processing the payment transaction using thepayment transaction authorization.

In accordance with another embodiment, a non-transitory machine-readablemedium stores instructions that, when executed by a personalized diningcomputing system, causes the personalized dining computing system toperform a method for managing personalized dining checks created byindividualized ordering enabled by associating user device and tableindicia. The method includes: receiving information identifying the userdevices of one or more patrons and information identifying a tableindicia as a result of associating the user devices of the one or morepatrons with a table indicia; initiating a dining session based oninformation identifying user devices and information identifying a tableindicia; receiving requests for dining items and transaction amounts forthe dining items from the user devices, each request includinginformation identifying the user device and the table indicia; receivinginformation confirming the delivery of dining items to the patrons;determining a final transaction amount for the requested dining items;transmitting the final transaction amount to the user devices andenabling the user devices to transmit a payment authorization request;receiving a payment transaction authorization request from the userdevices to transact funds to pay for the final transaction amount usingpredetermined payment methods; and processing the payment transactionusing the payment transaction authorization.

Additional objects and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will beset forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will beapparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of thedisclosed embodiments. The objects and advantages on the disclosedembodiments will be realized and attained by means of the elements andcombinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the detailed embodiments, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A depicts an illustration of the environment of the personalizeddining system.

FIG. 1B depicts a block diagram of an example network of thepersonalized dining system.

FIG. 2A depicts a simplified sequence flow diagram of a method forordering of food or beverage(s) in accordance with non-limitingembodiments of the personalized dining system.

FIG. 2B depicts a simplified sequence flow diagram of a method forserving of food and beverage orders in accordance with non-limitingembodiments of the personalized dining system.

FIGS. 3A-3C depict various screenshots of a patron user interface of thepersonalized dining system.

FIG. 4 depicts a screenshot of a waiter user interface of thepersonalized dining system.

FIG. 5 depicts a screenshot of a kitchen personnel user interface of thepersonalized dining system.

FIG. 6A-6B are flow charts depicting example processes executed by apersonalized dining computing system (“computing server”).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure will now bedescribed to provide an overall understanding of the principles of thestructure, function, and use of systems and methods disclosed herein forgenerating personalized dining checks created by individualized orderingenabled by associating mobile devices of patrons and waiters with tableindicia (“personalized dining system”).

As described above, patrons of a food and/or beverage diningestablishment may find it burdensome to depend on waiters for variousneeds (e.g., being seated, receiving menus, ordering food and/orbeverage items, receiving final checks, submitting final payments) or toperform tasks that may otherwise interfere with the dining experience(e.g., calculating final checks, tips, submitting payments, etc.).Waiters of the dining establishment may find it burdensome to seatpatrons, deliver menus, take orders, communicate orders to the kitchenstaff, pick up completed food and/or beverage items from the kitchenstaff, remember the various ordered food and/or beverage items and thepatrons that ordered them, deliver completed food and/or beverage itemsto the patrons, keep track of the bills accrued for each patron and/orgroup of patrons, submit the final check to the patrons, receive paymentfrom the patrons, and/or otherwise attend to the needs of patrons and/orkitchen staff. Likewise, kitchen staff may find it burdensome to managemultiple tasks of receiving the orders to prepare, cook, and/or createfood and/or beverage items for the patrons, including orders regardingthe prioritization of a food and/or beverage order, and communicating tothe waiter regarding completed food and/or beverage items or issuesrelated to the preparation of the food and/or beverage items.

Thus, the embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toimproving the experience and/or workflow of patrons, waiters, andkitchen staff in conducting their respective functions by enablingpatrons, waiters, and kitchen staff to communicate with one another viaa personalized dining computing system, by associating a mobile devicewith table indicia. The embodiments of the present disclosure may enablethe patrons to check-in at a table and/or receive final checks, amongother functions, by associating the mobile devices of the patrons with atable indicia affixed to a table of a dining establishment. Furthermore,the embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the patrons with auser interface that may enable patrons to select food and/or beverageitems using an interactive menu, receive final checks for the foodand/or beverage items, and submit final payments also via theinteractive mobile application. The embodiments of the presentdisclosure may enable the waiter to communicate with the kitchen staffand may provide the waiter with a user interface that may enable thewaiter to be informed of the needs of patrons, the respective foodand/or beverage orders of each patrons, and the status of the foodand/or beverage orders at the kitchen. Some embodiments of the presentdisclosure may enable waiters to communicate the orders of patrons tothe kitchen staff by associating the mobile device of the waiter withthe table indicia. The embodiments of the present disclosure may providekitchen staff with a user interface enabling the kitchen staff to viewthe food and/or beverage items ordered by patrons, and inform waitersand/or patrons of status updates related to the preparation, cooking,mixing, and/or completion of the food and/or beverage orders.

One or more examples of these non-limiting embodiments are illustratedin the selected examples disclosed and described in detail withreference made to FIGS. 1A-1B, 2A-2B, 3A-3C, 4-6 in the accompanyingdrawings. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand thatsystems and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings are non-limiting embodiments. The featuresillustrated or described in connection with one non-limiting embodimentmay be combined with the features of other non-limiting embodiments.Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within thescope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1A depicts an illustration of an exemplary environment 100A of thepersonalized dining system. At a high level, various embodiments of thepresent disclosure may allow patron(s) (“patron(s)”, “diner(s)”, “patronuser(s)”, or “user(s)”) 102, equipped with a mobile device (“patronmobile device”, or “patron device”), to use their patron mobiledevice(s) to initiate a dining experience by tapping, scanning, and/orotherwise associating an electronic beacon (“beacon”) 106 affixed to atable. Subsequently, the patron may order food and/or beverages, usingan interactive menu of patron mobile device 102, and have the kitchenand/or kitchen personnel 108 be informed of the patron's orders, with orwithout the involvement of a waiter 104. After the ordered food and/orbeverages (“order(s)”) of the patron(s) 102 are ready, a waiter maydeliver the order(s) to the patron(s), and allow an automatictransmission of the final check (“check(s)” or “bills”) for the ordersand service, by tapping, scanning, and/or otherwise associating thebeacon 106 with the waiter's mobile device (“waiter mobile device” or“waiter device”).

FIG. 1B depicts a block diagram of an exemplary environment 100B of thepersonalized dining system. Specifically, environment 100B includes aplurality of patron mobile devices 110, each having a user interface(“patron user interface” or “patron UI”) 112 enabling patron 102 toinitiate a dining experience (also referred to as “initiate diningsession”), access an interactive menu, order food and/or beverages, scanand/or tap beacon 114, and/or pay the bill for the ordered food and/orbeverage and service. In some embodiments, patron 102 may be able tosummon waiter 104 using patron user interface 112 or beacon 114.

Environment 100B further includes beacon 114. Beacon 114 may be one ormore of a one-dimensional bar code, a two-dimensional bar code (e.g., aQR code), a radiofrequency identification (RFID) device, a passiveintegrated circuit, a near field communication (NFC) device, or anydevice having a mechanism to relay information identifying a given tableto a mobile device or a patron mobile device 110 and/or waiter mobiledevice 116 to personalized dining computing system 112. In someembodiments, beacon 114 may also have the ability to summon waiter 116(e.g., via a button).

Environment 100B further includes one or more waiter mobile devices 116,having a user interface (“waiter user interface” or “waiter UI”) 118enabling waiter 104 to scan and/or tap beacon 114, facilitate thetransmission of bills, be informed of the status of placed food and/orbeverage orders, facilitate the initiation and/or termination of diningsessions, and facilitate the communication of food and/or beverageorders with kitchen 130. However, in some embodiments, patron 102 may beable to send the food and/or beverage orders to kitchen 130 to beprepared, without needing a waiter. In some embodiments, waiter 104 maybe able to prioritize certain orders over other orders, and/or providespecial instructions for the preparation of ordered food and/orbeverages, using waiter user interface 118 of waiter device 116. In someembodiments, waiter 104 may have the option to send the orders of patron102 to kitchen 130 to be prepared or placed in line, but not cooked yet,along with the option to inform kitchen 130 to start cooking an order ofpatron 110 that was previously prepared or placed in line, but notcooked yet.

In one embodiment, in addition to or as an alternative to use of beacon114, a localized or proximity Wi-Fi may be configured to identify atable, sense when individual patrons with patron mobile device(s) 110and/or waiters with waiter mobile device(s) 116 are at the table, and/orrelay information identifying the table or transaction relatedinformation to the patron mobile device(s) 110, waiter mobile device(s)116, or to personalized dining computing system 112. In suchembodiments, the sensing may occur as a result of the proximity of apatron mobile device 110 or waiter mobile device 116 to the localized orproximity Wi-Fi, and/or may occur as a patron or waiter connects to theWi-Fi. Thus, in such embodiments, instead of patrons having to scan thebeacon with their patron mobile device(s), the personalized diningcomputing system 112 (via the localized or proximity Wi-Fi) may beconfigured to recognize when a patron is in the dining venue and/oridentify what table the patron may be sitting at. The process may occurautomatically, without the need for beacon 114, or may involve the firstpatron at a table to initially scan beacon 114, before the localized orproximity Wi-Fi continues the process automatically.

Environment 100B further includes a kitchen or one or more kitchenpersonnel equipped with a kitchen device 130 (collectively referred toas “kitchen” or “kitchen device”), with each kitchen device having auser interface (“kitchen user interface” or “kitchen UI”) 132 enablingone or more kitchen personnel to receive food and/or beverage orders ofpatron 110, receive instructions related to preparing, expediting,prioritizing, and/or delaying the food and/or beverage orders of patron110, send notifications to the personalized dining computing system(“computing server”) regarding the start of the preparation, cooking,and/or placing in line, the food and/or beverage order of patron 110, orthe completion of the preparation and/or cooking of a food and/orbeverage order of patron 110.

Environment 1006 may further include a network 120 that serves as amedium for wireless communication between the personalized diningcomputing system (“computing server”), and one or more of patron 110,beacon 114, waiter 116, or kitchen 130.

Environment 100B further includes personalized dining computing system(“computing server”) 122. The computing server 122 may be embodied asany type of server or computing device capable of processing,communicating, storing, maintaining, and/or transferring data. Forexample, computing server 122 may be embodied as a server, amicrocomputer, a minicomputer, a mainframe, a desktop computer, a laptopcomputer, a mobile computing device, a handheld computer, a smart phone,a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant, a telephony device, acustom chip, an embedded processing device, or other computing deviceand/or suitable programmable device. Alternatively or additionally, thefunctions described herein as being performed by computing server 122may be performed entirely in a cloud environment.

The computing server 122 may comprise a memory (“memory”) 128 that keepstrack of the beacons of a dining venue, dining sessions associated witha beacon, patrons and orders associated with each patron for a givendining session, the status of the orders (e.g., ordered, in line,preparing, cooking, completed, etc.), as well as information related topayment status of each patron 110. In some embodiments, computing servermay manage the information (e.g., the beacons of a dining venue, diningsessions associated with a beacon, patrons and orders associated witheach patron for a given dining session, the status of the orders,information related to payment status of each patron, etc.) using adatabase. In one embodiment, the information related to payment,including but not limited to, the amount owed by patron(s), status of apayment transaction by a patron, the source of funds of patron(s) to beused for the transaction amount (“payment source”), etc., may be managedusing a ledger or shared ledger that utilizes block chain technology. Insome embodiments, computing server 122 may include an update interfacethat keeps track of updates in the status of orders placed, the statusof bills and checks of a patron, and/or status of a dining sessionassociated with beacon 114. In some embodiments, the update interfacemay be synchronized with one or more of the waiter device, kitchendevice, and/or patron device. Thus, in such embodiments, as kitchen 130inputs status updates (e.g., order placed in-line, order being prepared,order ready, etc.) regarding an ordered food and/or beverage item, thestatus update may be immediately reflected in one or more of thecomputing server 122, waiter UI 118, and/or patron UI 112

The computing server may further comprise a communication circuitry 124for enabling communication with various components of environment 1006,and processor 126 for managing information received from communicationcircuitry 124 and for processing bills and payments related to food andbeverage orders of patron 110.

The communication circuitry 124 of computing server 122 may be embodiedas any type of communication circuit, device, interface, or collectionthereof, capable of enabling communications between computing server 122and patron 110, beacon 114, waiter 116, and/or kitchen 130 via network120. For example, the communication circuitry 124 may be embodied as oneor more network interface controllers (NICs), using any one or morecommunication technologies (e.g., wireless or wired communications) andassociated protocols (e.g., Ethernet, Wi-Fi®, WiMAX, etc.) to effectsuch communication.

Processor 126 may be embodied as any type of processor capable ofperforming the functions described herein. For example, the processor126 may be embodied as a single or multi-core processor, a digitalsignal processor, microcontroller, a general purpose central processingunit (CPU), a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor, aprocessor having a pipeline, a complex instruction set computer (CISC)processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), aprogrammable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA),or other processor or processing/controlling circuit or controller.

In various configurations, computing server 122 may include a system busfor interconnecting the various components of the computing server 122.

The memory 128 may be embodied as any type of volatile or non-volatilememory or data storage capable of performing the functions describedherein. For example, one or more devices comprising the memory 128 maybe embodied as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), cachememory associated with processor 214, or other memory devices such asdynamic RAM (DRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), static ram (SRAM), programmableROM (PROM), electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), flash memory, aremovable memory card or disk, a solid state drive, and so forth. Inoperation, memory 128 may store various data and software used duringoperation of the computing server 122, such as operating systems,applications, programs, libraries, and drivers.

Memory 122 may also be embodied as any type of device or devicesconfigured for short-term or long-term storage of data such as, forexample, memory devices and circuits, memory cards, hard disk drives,solid-state drives, or other data storage devices, such as magnetic diskdrives, floppy drives, tape drives, hard drives, optical drives andmedia, magneto-optical drives and media, compact disc drives, CompactDisc Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disc Recordable (CD-R), CompactDisc Rewriteable (CD-RW), a suitable type of Digital Versatile Disc(DVD) or Blu-Ray disc, and so forth, or flash drives, solid state harddrives, redundant array of individual disks (RAID), virtual drives,networked drives and other memory means including storage media on theprocessor 126. It should be appreciated that such memory can be internalor external with respect to operation of the disclosed embodiments. Itshould also be appreciated that certain portions of the processesdescribed herein can be performed using instructions stored on acomputer-readable medium or media that direct or otherwise instruct acomputer system to perform the process steps. Non-transitorycomputer-readable media, as used herein, comprises all computer-readablemedia except for transitory, propagating signals.

In one embodiment, the computing server 122 may provide the environmentwith an alternative or additional network 120. This alternative oradditional network, being hosted by computing server 122, may allow thesystem to bypass or avoid fees related to the transfer of data acrossexisting networks.

In one embodiment, the kitchen UI 132 may be an extension of computingserver 122. For example, kitchen personnel may input a status updatepertaining to an ordered food and/or beverage into the kitchen UI 132and directly change the status of an ordered food and/or beverage in thedatabase of computing server 122.

FIGS. 2A-2B depict exemplary simplified sequence flow diagrams ofmethods 200A and 200B, respectively. Specifically, FIG. 2A depicts asimplified sequence flow diagram of method 200A for managing theordering of food or beverage(s) in accordance with non-limitingembodiments of the personalized dining system, while FIG. 2B depicts asimplified sequence flow diagram of method 200B for managing the servingof food and/or beverage orders in accordance with non-limitingembodiments of the personalized dining system.

Methods 200A and 200B may be executed by the devices and/or componentsrelated to one or more patrons 202 (e.g., first patron device 202A,second patron device 202B, and third patron device 202C), the table 204(e.g., a beacon 204A affixed to the table), the network 206, thepersonalized dining computing system (e.g., computing server 208A), thewaiter 210 (e.g., waiter mobile device 210A), and the kitchen 212 (e.g.,kitchen device 212A). While it may or may not be shown in figures, it isassumed that communications between computing server 208A and one ormore of a patron mobile device, beacon 204A, waiter mobile device 210A,or kitchen device 212A may occur via a network 206. While FIGS. 2A-2Bdepict three patrons (e.g., patron 1, patron 2, and patron 3) forpurposes of disclosure, it is contemplated that any number of patronsmay be involved in the methods discussed, and a patron may join at anytime of a dining session.

Furthermore, while FIG. 2A depicts a method 200A of ordering food and/orbeverage(s) by a patron where a waiter is involved in the process, theembodiments of the present disclosure also include systems and methodsof ordering food and/or beverage(s) where a waiter may not be involvedin the process. For example, as will be discussed below in steps 234 and250, a waiter need not check-in at beacon 204A, for an order of a patronto be sent to kitchen 212, according to certain embodiments of thepresent disclosure. Thus, in such embodiments, when a patron selects afood and/or beverage order (“order(s)”) using patron mobile device, theorder may be communicated to the computing server 208A, and thensubsequently communicated to the kitchen device 212A, without the needof waiter 210. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a patron may directlysend orders to kitchen device 212A, using patron mobile device, withoutthe need of computing server 208A to relay the orders to kitchen device212A. In such embodiments, it may even be the case that the computingserver may be used as a kitchen device by displaying ordered food and/orbeverages and/or receiving inputs by kitchen personnel, via a userinterface. Nevertheless, steps 216-254, depicted in FIG. 2A, are anexemplary embodiment of ordering food and/or beverage(s) using thepersonalized dining system, where a waiter may be involved in theprocess.

At step 214, a patron who is the first in a group of patrons to enter adining venue and be seated at a table (“first patron”) may check in atthe table 204 using a mobile device of the first patron (“first patronmobile device”) 202A. In some embodiments, the act of checking in (alsoreferred to as “signing in,” “check in”, “tap in,” etc.) by a patron mayinclude associating the mobile device of a patron with a beacon 204Athat may be affixed to the table. The association may be performed, forexample, by scanning a 1-dimensional or 2-dimensional bar code (e.g., QRcode) of the beacon with the patron mobile device. Alternately oradditionally, the association may be made by entering patron mobiledevice information into beacon 204A or entering identifying informationof the beacon into the mobile device of the patron. Alternatively oradditionally, in lieu of use of a beacon 204A, the check-in process mayoccur when the patron mobile device enters the zone of a localized orproximity Wi-Fi, and the Wi-Fi device is configured to identify and/orreceive identifying information of the patron mobile device. The beacon204A may be one or more of an electronic device having a 1-dimensionalbar code, an electronic device having a 2-dimensional bar code (e.g., aQR code), a radiofrequency identification (RFID) device, a passiveintegrated circuit, a near field communication (NFC) device, or anydevice having a mechanism to relay information identifying a patronmobile device and/or waiter mobile device 116 to computing server 208A.

At step 216, subsequent to first patron checking in, beacon 204A maytransmit one or more check-in information related to the patron tocomputing server 208A via a network 206. In some embodiments, thecheck-in information may be transmitted in the form of a signal and/orelectromagnetic wave to computing server 208A. The check-in informationmay include, one or more of, identifying information of the beacon (orthe localized or proximity Wi-Fi), the date and time of the start of thecheck-in, and identifying information of the patron mobile device thatchecked in.

At step 218, computing server 208A may initiate a dining session and addfirst patron to the dining session. Subsequent to receiving a patron'scheck-in information from beacon 204A (e.g., as in step 216), computingserver 208A may determine whether there is an ongoing dining sessionassociated with the beacon 204A from which check-in information has beenreceived. If the beacon does not have an ongoing dining session,computing server 208A may initiate a dining session for beacon 204A andadd the patron associated with the check-in (e.g., first patronaccording to step 218) to the dining session. If, for example, computingserver 208A determines that there is already an ongoing dining sessionassociated with beacon 204A, computing server may simply add the patronassociated with the check-in information to the dining session, withoutinitiating a new dining session.

A dining session may indicate, electronically, that a beacon, andpossibly a table associated with the beacon, is currently being used byone or more patrons for dining. A computing server may have a record ofall beacons of a dining venue in a memory and/or database. Initiating adining session may include the computing server identifying the beaconfrom which the check-in information originated from, and, if that beacondoes not already have an ongoing dining session, indicating that thereis a new dining session in place.

A dining session may have a unique identification (“dining session ID”)that may be generated when the dining session is initiated by thecomputing server. The dining session ID may be related to and/orgenerated from one or more of the identifying information of a tableand/or beacon at which the patron(s) of a dining session may be seated,the date and/or time of the creation of the dining session, theidentifying information of the first patron, a randomly generatednumber, or a combination thereof. A dining session may signify, at ahigh level, that a beacon, and/or table associated with a beacon hasbeen occupied by a group of one or more patrons. Furthermore, initiatinga dining session may enable, at a high level, the management of theordering and service of food and/or beverages, and the paymenttransaction associated with the ordering and service of food and/orbeverages. In some embodiments, a beacon may be limited to having atmost one dining session at a given time. Thus, the computing server mayprevent initiating a dining session for a beacon that has an ongoingdining session, for example, when a previous dining session associatedwith the beacon has not terminated yet. In some embodiments, computingserver 208A may initiate a dining session by entering the time at whichthe first patron checked-in, which may be obtained from the receivedcheck-in information, into the database, memory and/or electronicstorage medium allotted to the beacon.

Furthermore, computing server 208A may enter identifying information ofpatron(s) as they are added to the dining session, along with patronorders. In some embodiments, computing server 208A may manage the aboveinformation related to a dining session and patron orders using a shareddatabase, shared ledger, and/or block chain technology.

At step 220, computing server 208A may send first patron an interactivemenu for first patron to download and order food and/or beverage itemsusing first patron mobile device 202A. The transmission of aninteractive menu by the computing server to the mobile device of apatron may be automatic, subsequent to adding the patron to a diningsession. Computing server 208A may deliver the interactive menu to thefirst patron mobile device 202A via network 206. In some embodiments,the interactive menu may be accessible to a patron even prior to thepatron being added to a dining session. In another embodiment, while theinteractive menu may be accessible to a patron even prior to the patronbeing added to a dining session, the interactive menu may be passwordprotected, and being added to a dining session may allow the patron toreceive the password to access the interactive menu on patron mobiledevice from computing server 208A via network 206. The interactive menumay enable a patron to order food and/or beverage items listed on theinteractive menu using the patron mobile device. FIGS. 3A-3C depictvarious screenshots of patron mobile device where a patron received aninteractive menu, opens the interactive menu, and places an order. Insome embodiments, the ability for a patron to input and/or receiveinformation via the patron mobile device need not utilize a mobileapplication, and may be done entirely using a mobile internet browser.

At step 222, a second patron may check in. In some embodiments,subsequent to first patron downloading the interactive menu, the firstpatron may place an order for a food and/or beverage item using thedownloaded interactive menu. However, FIG. 2A depicts that a secondpatron may check in at step 220 in order to show an embodiment where afirst patron may want to wait for other patrons to show up (e.g.,invitees to a dining event) before placing an order. Like step 214, acheck-in by a patron may include associating the mobile device of thepatron with the beacon 204A that may be affixed to a table. Theassociation may be performed, for example, by scanning a 1-dimensionalor 2-dimensional bar code (e.g., QR code) of the beacon with the patronmobile device. Alternately or additionally, the association may be madeby entering patron mobile device information into beacon 204A orentering identifying information of the beacon into the mobile device ofthe patron. The beacon 204A may be one or more of an electronic devicehaving a 1-dimensional bar code, an electronic device having a2-dimensional bar code (e.g., a QR code), a radiofrequencyidentification (RFID) device, a passive integrated circuit, a near fieldcommunication (NFC) device, or any device having a mechanism to relayinformation identifying a patron mobile device and/or waiter mobiledevice 116 to computing server 208A.

At step 224, subsequent to second patron checking in, beacon 204A maytransmit one or more check-in information related to the patron (e.g.,“second patron check in information”) to computing server 208A via anetwork 206. In some embodiments, the check-in information may betransmitted in the form of a signal and/or electromagnetic wave tocomputing server 208A. The check-in information may include, one or moreof, identifying information of the beacon, the date and time of thestart of the check-in, and identifying information of the patron mobiledevice that checked in.

At step 226, computing server 208A may add second patron to the diningsession of beacon 204A. Subsequent to receiving second patron's check-ininformation from beacon 204A (e.g., as in step 224), computing server208A may determine whether there is an ongoing dining session associatedwith the beacon 204A from which the check-in information has beenreceived. The computing server may have a record of beacons of thedining venue in a memory, database, and/or electronic storage medium.After identifying the beacon from which the signal originated, thecomputing server may check to see if the beacon has an ongoing diningsession. If the beacon does not have an ongoing dining session,computing server 208A may initiate a dining session for beacon 204A andadd the second patron associated with the check-in to the diningsession. However, as is the case with step 226, if computing server 208Adetermines that there is already an ongoing dining session associatedwith beacon 204A, computing server may simply add the patron associatedwith the check-in information to the dining session, without initiatinga new dining session. Since a dining session had already been initiatedfor beacon 204A during step 218, computing server 208A may simply addsecond patron to the ongoing dining session at step 226. Adding a patronto a dining session may signify, at a high level, that a patron hasjoined an existing group of patrons for dining at table 204 associatedwith beacon 204A.

In some embodiments, adding a patron (e.g., second patron) to an ongoingdining session includes having computing server 208A enteringidentifying information related to the patron to be added (e.g., secondpatron) into the section within the memory, database, and/or electronicstorage medium of computing server 208A allotted to the dining sessionof beacon 204A. In some embodiments, computing server 208A may managethe above information related to the dining session, patron orders, orthe payment transaction that will occur as a result of the patron ordersusing a shared database, shared ledger, and/or block chain technology.

In some embodiments, a new patron may need permission from anotherpatron, in order to join a dining session. In such embodiments, prior toadding a new patron (e.g., second patron) to the ongoing dining session,the computing server may send a request to have the new patron added tothe ongoing dining session to other patrons of the ongoing diningsession (e.g., first patron), and receive an acceptance of the requestto have the new patron added to the ongoing dining session from theanother patron of the ongoing dining session (e.g., first patron).

At step 228, second patron may download an interactive menu of therestaurant delivered to second patron mobile device 202B by thecomputing server 208A via network 206. The transmission of aninteractive menu by the computing server to the mobile device of apatron may be automatic, subsequent to adding the patron to a diningsession. In some embodiments, the interactive menu may be accessible bya patron even prior to initiating a dining session. In anotherembodiment, while the interactive menu may be accessible to a patroneven prior to initiating a dining session, the interactive menu may bepassword protected, and initiating a dining session may allow a patronto receive the password to access the interactive menu on patron mobiledevice from computing server 208A via network 206. The interactive menumay enable a patron to order food and/or beverage items listed on theinteractive menu using the patron mobile device. FIGS. 3A-3C depictvarious screenshots of patron mobile device where a patron received aninteractive menu, opens the interactive menu, and places an order.

At steps 230, first patron may select orders for food and/or beveragesusing the interactive menu on first patron mobile device 202A. Likewise,at steps 232, second patron may select orders for food and/or beveragesusing the interactive menu on second patron mobile device 202B. Uponselecting the orders, information related to the orders and patronmaking the orders (“order information”) may be electronically and/orwirelessly sent from the mobile devices of the first and second patronsto computing server 208A via network 206. The transmitted orderinformation may include, but is not limited to, information identifyingthe patron and/or patron mobile device making the order, the name andquantity of the order, the date and time of the order, identifyinginformation of the beacon and/or dining session in which the patron isin, the value amount to be transacted for each item of the order,information identifying the payment source a patron intends to use toeventually pay for the order, information identifying the beaconassociated with the order. The order information may be received bycomputing server 208A using communication circuitry or interface.

In some embodiments, computing server 208A, upon receiving the orderinformation, may locate the database, memory, and/or electronic storagemedium based on information identifying the beacon, dining session,and/or patron, and store the orders for each patron of the diningsession associated with beacon 204A within the database, memory, and/orelectronic storage medium.

In some embodiments, a computing server, upon receiving the orderinformation, may subsequently send relevant order information (e.g.,name and quantity of the ordered items, beacon associated with thedining session of the order, etc.) to kitchen device 212A. Furthermore,in some embodiments, a patron may directly send order information tokitchen device 212A using patron mobile device. However, in theembodiment as depicted in FIG. 2A, a waiter may check-in at beacon 204Abefore computing server 208A may forward the order information of apatron to kitchen device 212A.

For example, at step 234, waiter 210 may check in at the beacon 204Aassociated with the dining session of first and second patron. Acheck-in by a waiter may include associating waiter mobile device 210Awith beacon 204A that may be affixed to a table. The association may beperformed, for example, by scanning a 1-dimensional or 2-dimensional barcode (e.g., QR code) of the beacon with the waiter mobile device.Alternately or additionally, the association may be made by enteringinformation identifying or related to waiter mobile device 210A intobeacon 204A or entering information identifying beacon 204A into waitermobile device 210A. Alternately or additionally, waiter 210 may simplycheck-in by using either waiter mobile device 210A or beacon 204Aindividually (e.g., pressing a button on either devices).

At step 236, as a result of waiter 210 checking in at beacon 204A, thebeacon signals computing server 208A to send any pending orders ofpatron(s) stored in computing server to kitchen device 212A. Since thepending orders, at step 236 are the orders of the first and secondpatron(s), the received signal would cause computing server, at step238, to send the orders of the first and second patrons to device 212A.The signal may be transmitted from beacon 204A to computing server 208Ain the form of an electronic signal and/or electromagnetic wave tocomputing server 208A.

At step 238, pending food and/or beverage orders of patron(s) (e.g., theorders of the first patron and second patron) are communicated to thekitchen 212. In some embodiments, the orders are transmittedelectronically and/or wirelessly from computing server 208A to kitchendevice 212A over network 206. In some embodiments, for example, wherethe orders of a patron are communicated to the kitchen as a consequenceof a waiter checking in, a waiter may specify whether the kitchen shouldstart preparing, mixing, and/or cooking the ordered food and/or beverageimmediately or not as immediately. Furthermore, in such embodiments, awaiter may specify whether the order should be prioritized over otherorders. Information related the ordered food and/or beverage may bereceived by kitchen device 212A and may be displayed on a user interfaceof kitchen device 212A. The information related to the ordered foodand/or beverage may include the name, content, and/or quantity of thefood and/or beverage item that a patron has selected, the beaconassociated with the selected order, the time at which the order had beenselected, the time at which the order had been communicated to thekitchen, or any special instructions in regards to the preparation ofthe order. It is contemplated that in various embodiments, a patron maybe able to adjust, add, and/or cancel a pending order, before and/orafter the orders have been communicated to the kitchen 212. Theadjustment, addition, and/or cancellation of a pending order mayinvolve, for example, the patron inputting the decision using the patronmobile device.

At step 240, a third patron may check-in. Like steps 222 and 214, acheck-in by a patron may include associating the mobile device of thepatron with the beacon 204A that may be affixed to the table. Theassociation may be performed, for example, by scanning a 1-dimensionalor 2-dimensional bar code (e.g., QR code) of beacon 204A with the patronmobile device. Alternately or additionally, the association may be madeby entering information identifying the patron mobile device informationinto beacon 204A or entering information identifying beacon 204A intothe mobile device of the patron.

At step 242, subsequent to third patron checking in, beacon 204A maytransmit one or more check-in information related to the third patron tocomputing server 208A via network 206. In some embodiments, the check-ininformation may be transmitted in the form of a signal and/orelectromagnetic wave to computing server 208A. The check-in informationmay include, one or more of, information identifying beacon 204A, thedate and time of the start of the check-in, and information identifyingthe patron mobile device that checked in (e.g., third patron mobiledevice 202C).

At step 244, computing server 208A may add third patron to the diningsession of beacon 204A. Subsequent to receiving third patron's check-ininformation from beacon 204A (e.g., as in step 242), computing server208A may determine whether there is an ongoing dining session associatedwith the beacon 204A from which the check-in information has beenreceived. Since a dining session has already been initiated for beacon204A during step 218, computing server 208A may simply add third patronto the ongoing dining session at step 244. Adding a patron to a diningsession may signify, at a high level, that a patron has joined anexisting group of patrons for dining at table 204 associated with beacon204A. In the instant step, third patron may still be added to theongoing dining session for beacon 204A, even though waiter had alreadychecked in at step 234, and the orders of the other patron(s) (e.g.,first patron and second patron) have already been sent to kitchen 212A(e.g. at steps 236 and 238). However, in some embodiments, a patron maybe prevented from joining an ongoing dining session if the orders ofother patrons have already been sent to kitchen 212 and/or if a waiter210 has already checked-in at the beacon associated with the ongoingdining session.

In some embodiments, adding a patron (e.g., third patron) to an ongoingdining session may include having computing server 208A use theinformation identifying beacon 204A to search for beacon 204A in adatabase, memory, and/or electronic storage medium having a record ofall beacons of the dining venue, and then enter information identifyingthe patron to be added (e.g., third patron) to the list of patrons inthe ongoing dining session of beacon 204A. In some embodiments,computing server 208A may manage the above information related to diningsession, patron orders, and payment transactions of patron orders usinga shared database, shared ledger, and/or block chain technology.

In some embodiments, a new patron may need permission from anotherpatron, in order to join a dining session. In such embodiments, prior toadding a new patron (e.g., third patron) to the ongoing dining session,the computing server may send a request to have the new patron added tothe ongoing dining session to other patrons of the ongoing diningsession (e.g., first and second patron), and receive an acceptance ofthe request to have the new patron added to the ongoing dining sessionfrom the another patron of the ongoing dining session (e.g., firstand/or second patron(s)).

At step 246, third patron may download an interactive menu of therestaurant delivered to third patron mobile device 202B by the computingserver 208A via network 206. Like step 220 and 228, the transmission ofan interactive menu by the computing server 208A to the mobile device ofa patron may be automatic, subsequent to adding the patron to a diningsession. The interactive menu may enable a patron to order food and/orbeverage items listed on the interactive menu using the patron mobiledevice. FIGS. 3A-3C depict various screenshots of patron mobile devicewhere a patron received an interactive menu, opens the interactive menu,and places an order.

At step 248, third patron may select orders for food and/or beveragesusing the interactive menu on third patron mobile device 202C. Likesteps 230 and 232, upon selecting the orders, information related to theorder and patron making the orders (“order information”) may beelectronically and/or wirelessly sent from third patron mobile device202C to computing server 208A via network 206. The transmitted orderinformation may include, but is not limited to, information identifyingthe patron and/or patron mobile device making the order, the name andquantity of the order, the date and time of the order, identifyinginformation of the beacon and/or dining session in which the patron isin, the value amount to be transacted for each item of the order,information identifying the payment source a patron intends to use toeventually pay for the order, information identifying the beaconassociated with the order. The order information may be received bycomputing server 208A using a communication circuitry or interface.

In some embodiments, computing server 208A, upon receiving the orderinformation from a patron, may subsequently send relevant orderinformation (e.g., name and quantity of the ordered items, beaconassociated with the dining session of the order, etc.) to kitchen device212A. Furthermore, in some embodiments, a patron may directly send orderinformation to kitchen device 212A using the patron mobile device.However, in the embodiments depicted in FIG. 2A, a waiter may check-inat beacon 204A before computing server 208A can forward the orderinformation of patron(s) to kitchen device 212A. In other embodiments, awaiter may need to check-in at a beacon to send orders of patron(s) tokitchen 212, except for the orders of any new patron added to the diningsession after the waiter has already checked in the order of previouspatrons. For example, in order to expedite the dining experience of alatecomer to a dining event., the orders of any new patron may besubsequently sent to kitchen without the need for a waiter to check-inat beacon 204A.

Nevertheless, in the embodiments disclosed in FIG. 2A, at step 250,waiter 210 checks-in at beacon 204A associated with the dining sessionof first, second, and third patron. At step 252, as a result of waiterchecking in at beacon 204A, the beacon signals computing server 208A tosend the orders of third patron to kitchen device 212A. The beacon 204Amay transfer the signal to computing server 208A electronically orwirelessly.

At step 254, computing server 208A communicates pending food and/orbeverage orders (e.g., the orders made by the third patron) to thekitchen 212. In some embodiments, the orders are transmittedelectronically and/or wirelessly from computing server 208A to kitchendevice 212A over network 206. In some embodiments, for example, wherethe orders of a patron are communicated to the kitchen as a consequenceof a waiter checking in, a waiter may specify whether the kitchen shouldstart preparing, mixing, and/or cooking the ordered food and/or beverageimmediately or not as immediately. Furthermore, in such embodiments, awaiter may specify whether the order should be prioritized over otherorders. Information related to the ordered food and/or beverage may bereceived by kitchen device 212A and may be displayed on a user interfaceof the kitchen device 212A. The information related to the ordered foodand/or beverage may include the content, name, and/or quantity of thefood and/or beverage item that a patron has selected, the beaconassociated with the selected order, the time at which the order had beenselected, the time at which the order had been communicated to thekitchen, or any special instructions in regards to the preparation ofthe order.

FIG. 2B depicts a simplified sequence flow diagrams related to theserving of food and beverage orders in accordance with non-limitingembodiments of the personalized dining system.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, at step 256, kitchen 212 may inform computingserver 208A, using kitchen device 212A, that a food and/or beverage thathad been ordered by the first patron (“first patron order”) is ready.The information may be sent electronically or wirelessly over network206 to computing server 208A, using kitchen device 212A. In someembodiments, the kitchen 212 may directly send the information of anorder being ready to waiter mobile device 210A. In some embodiments,kitchen 212 may also inform computing server 208A of other statusupdates related to patron orders, the status updates including, but notlimited to, an order being placed in line for preparation (“in line” or“pending”), an order being prepared (“being prepared”, “preparing”), anorder being cooked (“cooking”), an ordered being mixed (“mixed”), etc.In some embodiments, an order that is “prepared” may be distinguishedfrom an order “cooked” or “being cooked” in that a prepared ordersignifies that ingredients of the order ready but not cooked yet. Anorder that is “ready” or “complete” may signify that kitchen 212 hascompleted making the ordered food and/or beverage and the completed foodand/or beverage can be picked up by waiter 210 and served to thepatron(s). In some embodiments, kitchen 212 may also inform computingserver 208A if an order cannot be prepared, cooked, and/or mixed, due toan ingredient being out of stock, for example (“out of stock”).

At step 258, computing server 208A may send information of the firstpatron order being ready to the waiter mobile device 210A via network206. The transmission of the information from computing server 208A towaiter mobile device 210A may be automatic, upon receiving informationfrom kitchen device 212A of the first patron order being ready. In someembodiments, other status updates related to a patron order (e.g., inline, preparation, cooking, out of stock, etc.) may similarly be sent bycomputing server 208A to waiter mobile device 210A. In some embodiments,one or more of kitchen device, waiter mobile device, computing server,and/or patron mobile device may be synchronized periodically and/orcontinuously and/or have shared databases that may include datapertaining to ordered food and/or beverage items. In such embodiments, astatus update, by kitchen 212, pertaining to an ordered food and/orbeverage may be instantly stored in and/or be available for display onkitchen device 212A, waiter mobile device 210A, computing server 208A,and/or patron mobile device(s).

At step 260, kitchen 212 may inform computing server 208A, using kitchendevice 212A, that a food and/or beverage that had been ordered by thesecond patron (“second patron order”) is ready. Alternately oradditionally, the kitchen 212 may directly send the information of anorder being ready to waiter mobile device 210A. Like step 256, kitchen212 may also inform computing server 208A of other status updatesrelated to patron orders.

Like step 258, step 262 may include computing server 208A sendinginformation of the second patron order being ready to the waiter mobiledevice 210A via network 206.

At step 264, kitchen 212 may inform computing server 208A, using kitchendevice 212A, that a food and/or beverage that had been ordered by thethird patron (“third patron order”) is ready. Alternately oradditionally, the kitchen 212 may directly send the information of anorder being ready to waiter mobile device 210A. Like steps 256 and 260,kitchen 212 may also inform computing server 208A of other statusupdates related to patron orders.

Like step 258 and 262, step 266 may include computing server 208Asending information of the third patron order being ready to the waitermobile device 210A via network 206.

At process 268, waiter 210 may deliver the ordered food and beveragesthat are now ready at the kitchen to the patron(s) and check-out. Forexample, after being informed that the food and/or beverage itemsordered by the first, second, and third patrons are ready, a waiter maygo to the kitchen, pick up the food and/or beverage items, and carrythem over to the table at which the patrons are at. After being informedof a patron order being ready, a waiter may choose to deliver the foodand/or beverage that had been ordered by the patron to the patron.However, as depicted in FIG. 2B, a waiter may choose to wait until theorders of all the patrons of an ongoing dining session are ready beforea waiter delivers the orders to the patrons. A check-out by the waiter,like a check-in, may refer to associating waiter mobile device 210A withbeacon 204A that may be affixed to the table at which the patron(s) arelocates. The association may be performed, for example, by scanning a1-dimensional or 2-dimensional bar code (e.g., QR code) of the beaconwith the waiter mobile device. Alternately or additionally, theassociation may be made by entering waiter mobile device informationinto beacon 204A or entering identifying information of the beacon intothe mobile device of the waiter. Alternately or additionally, waiter maysimply check-out by using the waiter mobile device or the beaconindividually (e.g., pressing a button on either devices).

At step 270, as a consequence of a waiter checking out, beacon 204Asignals to computing server 208A that waiter 210 has checked-out. Thebeacon 204A may transfer the signal to computing server 208Aelectronically or wirelessly.

At step 272, after receiving the signal from beacon 204A that waiter 210checked out at beacon 204A, computing server 208A may calculate thefinal checks to be sent to the patron mobile device(s). The calculationmay be performed by a processor within computing server 208A. In someembodiments, the calculation may be stored in a shared ledger replicatedamong other devices of the environment (e.g., patron mobile device(s),waiter mobile device 210A, kitchen device, etc.). In some embodiments,the calculations may be performed by utilizing block chain techniques.

It is contemplated that in various embodiments, the calculations mayfactor in coupons, vouchers, loyalty points, reward points, etc. In suchembodiments, information related to a coupon, voucher, loyalty program,and/or reward program may be entered into a patron mobile device by apatron, for example, when the patron is selecting an order (e.g., as insteps 230, 232, and 248). Alternatively or additionally, informationrelated to a coupon, voucher, loyalty program, and/or reward program maybe entered into a waiter mobile device at the request of a patron.Subsequently, the information may be communicated to computing server208A.

At steps 274, 276, and 278, computing server 208A may send the finalchecks, with the transaction amounts calculated in step 272, to thefirst patron device, second patron device, and third patron device,respectively. The final checks may enable the patron to pay thetransaction amount, using a payment source of the patron (e.g., visadebit card, PayPal, etc.). In some embodiments, the final checks mayalso indicate a tip amount.

At steps 278, 280, and 282, a payment transaction authorization is sentto computing server 208A via network 206 from first patron device 202A,second patron device 202B, and third patron device 202C, respectively.The payment transaction authorization may include information on thepayment amount to be transacted and information identifying apredetermined payment source for each of the respective patron(s) fromwhich to transact the payment amount. Thus, for example, first patronmay have a PayPal account on his or her mobile device that he or she mayuse in the payment transaction authorization sent to computing server208A. If first patron decides to pay half of the final check, thepayment transaction authorization sent to computing server 208A mayinclude a payment amount that is half of the final check. The paymenttransaction authorization may also include information identifying firstpatron's PayPal account (e.g., account number) so as to enable computingserver to initiate a process that may include a withdrawal of funds fromfirst patron's PayPal account.

At step 284, computing server 208A may process the payment, for each ofthe patrons of the dining session, and dining terminate the diningsession for the patrons. In some embodiments, the dining session may beterminated upon a successful processing of payments for the respectiveamounts indicated in the received payment transaction authorizationrequests using the payment source(s) and/or payment preferencesindicated in the payment transaction authorization requests, for each ofthe patrons.

While FIGS. 2A-2B may depict computing server 208A and kitchen device212A as being distinct, it is contemplated that in some embodiments,computing server 208A may be used as and/or be connected to kitchendevice 212A, with a user interface displaying order information andenabling the input of status updates pertaining to orders by kitchen212, among other functionalities. It is also contemplated that in someembodiments, the functions performed by computing server 208A may beperformed entirely on a cloud system. It is also contemplated that insome embodiments, in lieu of beacon 204A, the functions ascribed tobeacon 204A may be performed by a localized or proximity Wi-Fi.

FIGS. 3A-3C depict various screenshots of the user interface of a userof the personalized dining system who is a patron (“patron UI”).

For example, FIG. 3A depicts a screenshot of a patron UI after a patronhas been added to a dining session and the patron mobile device hasreceived an interactive menu from the computing server. A dining sessionmay have a unique identification (“dining session ID”) that may begenerated when the dining session is initiated by the computing server.The dining session ID may be related to and/or generated from one ormore of the identifying information of a table and/or beacon at whichthe patron(s) of a dining session may be seated, the date and/or time ofthe creation of the dining session, the identifying information of thefirst patron, a randomly generated number, or a combination thereof. Forexample, Box 302A informs the patron user that patron has been added todining session #3468 at beacon #9 of the fictitious “Best Restaurant.”Thus, the dining session ID is a random number generated during thecreation of the dining session and the identification of the beacon(e.g., beacon #9) may be used by the computing server to associate andtrack the locate the patron(s) of the dining session. Likewise, box 304Aenables the patron user to access the interactive menu of the restaurant(e.g., Best Restaurant) and select orders.

FIG. 3B depicts a screenshot of a patron UI after a patron has opened aninteractive menu of the fictitious “Best Restaurant.” For example, asseen in the interactive menu of FIG. 3B, “Best Restaurant” servesseveral choices of Burgers 302B and Drinks 306B. Each item (e.g., theone or more burgers and one or more drinks) can be selected by thepatron user for order. Thus, FIG. 3C depicts a screenshot of the samepatron UI after the patron has selected “Hamburger $9.99” (e.g., box304B in FIG. 3B) in the patron UI depicted in FIG. 3B. As illustrated inFIG. 3C, a patron user may have the option of selecting any quantity302C of the selected order. By clicking yes, a patron user may select anorder for one hamburger, costing $9.99. In some embodiments, theselected order may be automatically sent to the computing server afterthe patron submits a choice of a food and/or beverage item in theinteractive menu (e.g., by clicking “yes”). The content and quantity ofthe ordered item (e.g., one hamburger) may be sent along with one ormore of the cumulative and/or individual value amounts of the ordereditems (e.g., $9.99), identifying information of the patron user,identifying information of the beacon and/or dining session. In otherembodiments, the selected orders of a patron user does not get sent tothe computing server until a waiter comes and checks in at the beacon ofthe table at which the patron user is seated. For example, delaying thetransmission of ordered food and/or beverage items of patron(s) of adining session until a waiter comes by and checks-in allows thepatron(s) to finalize their food and/or beverage choices, ask the waiterquestions, and/or wait for other patron(s) to show up and be added on tothe dining session. Additionally or alternately, in other embodiments,the selected orders of a patron user are sent directly to the kitchenupon selection of the order by the patron user (e.g., by clicking“yes”).

FIG. 4 depicts a screenshot of the user interface of a user of thepersonalized dining system who is a waiter (“waiter UI”). As depicted inFIG. 4, the waiter UI may display one or more ongoing dining sessions402, indicated by an identification of a table or beacon, and/orrandomly generated number, associated with the dining session (e.g.,Table 1596, Table 3468, Table 6859, etc.). For example, within a sectiondevoted to an ongoing dining session 402, the patron UI may list theorders 404 of the patron(s) of the dining session, along with the statusof each order. The status may include an indication that an ordered itemhas been simply been ordered but the order has yet to be sent to thekitchen (e.g. “ordered” 406). In such cases, the waiter may be notifiedthat he or she may need to check-in at the beacon associated with thedining session at which an item is marked as only “ordered” (e.g., “Tapbeacon to send orders” 408). The status may also include an indicationthat the kitchen is now informed of a patron's order but that thekitchen has not started preparing the order yet (e.g., “pending” 410). Astatus may also indicate that an order is being prepared at the kitchen(e.g., “preparing” 412) or that an ordered food and/or beverage has beenprepared already (e.g., “complete” 414). In some embodiments, whereongoing dining session includes a completed order, the patron may benotified to pick up the completed order and deliver to the patron(s) ofthe ongoing dining session (e.g., “Deliver Completed Items to Table”416). In some embodiments, where all food and beverage orders of adining session are completed (e.g., as in the orders for Table 6859),the waiter may also be notified that he or she may check-out the diningsession, which may refer to notifying the computing server that thepatron(s) can now have bills and/or final checks sent to their mobiledevice(s). In some embodiments, a waiter may check-out by tapping thebeacon associated with an ongoing dining session (hence the notification“Tap Beacon to Send Bill” 418). In some embodiments, a waiter may benotified that he or she is being summoned or called by patron(s) to atable where patron(s) are seated. In another embodiment, the waiter UImay enable the waiter to send notifications to the kitchen via thecomputing server and/or network. These notifications may include, forexample, special instructions for the preparation, cooking, or mixing ofan ordered food and/or beverage, or an instruction to prioritize or rushone or more ordered food and/or beverages.

FIG. 5 depicts a screenshot of the user interface of a user of thepersonalized dining system who is a kitchen personnel (“kitchen UI”). Asdepicted in FIG. 5, kitchen UI may display pending food and beverageorders from patron(s) of a dining session (“orders pending”) and foodand beverage orders currently being prepared. In one embodiment, asdepicted in FIG. 5, pending food and beverage orders (“orders pending”)may be displayed reverse chronologically, while the orders beingprepared may be displayed chronologically. An order within each list mayinclude details pertaining to the order, including but not limited to,the time at which the order was received (e.g., for orders pending) orthe time at which the preparation for the ordered food or beverage began(e.g., for orders being prepared), the name or content of the order(e.g., BLT, Hamburger, Southwestern, Chicken Parmesan, etc.). Next toeach row of information pertaining to an order, they may be one or morebuttons enabling kitchen personnel to indicate a status change inregards to the order. For example, as depicted in FIG. 5, under thesection “Orders Pending” 502, a “Start” button 502A next to a row ofdetails pertaining to an order may enable the kitchen personnel to movea listed order into the “Orders Being Prepared” section. Likewise, underthe section “Orders Being Prepared” 504, a “Completed” button 504A nextto a row of details pertaining to an order may enable the kitchenpersonnel to remove the listed order from the “Orders Being Prepared”section. By clicking on such buttons pertaining to the status change ofan ordered food and/or beverage, kitchen personnel may send notificationof the status change to a waiter mobile device via the computing serverand/or network. In some embodiments, the kitchen UI may also enable thekitchen personnel to notify the waiter if an order cannot be prepared,for example, due to an ingredient being out of stock. Furthermore, insome embodiments, the kitchen UI may also display special instructionsand/or priority requests regarding an order. In some embodiments, thekitchen UI may also include additional sections (e.g., completed foodand beverage orders) or divide a section further. For example, thekitchen UI may subdivide the section, orders being prepared, todistinguish between orders whose ingredients are being prepared andorders being cooked.

FIG. 6A-6B are flow charts depicting example processes executed by apersonalized dining computing system (“computing server”).

Specifically, FIG. 6A depict an example process 600A by which thecomputing server creates a dining session, adds a new patron to thedining session, and sends the orders of the patron(s) of the diningsession to the kitchen device.

Step 602 may include receiving a signal from a beacon that includesidentifying information of a new patron (new patron ID), identifyinginformation of the beacon and/or table associated with the beacon (tableID), and temporal information pertaining to the signal (time). Hecomputing server itself may have a record of table IDs for each of thebeacons or tables associated with the beacons at a dining venue.

Step 604 may include determining whether the table or beacon associatedwith table ID has an ongoing dining session. Step 604 may includesearching for the table ID within the memory of computing server anddetermining whether, at the received time from step 602, the table orbeacon associated with the table ID has an ongoing dining session.

If, subsequent to step 604, the table or beacon associated with table IDdoes not have an ongoing dining session, step 606A may includeinitiating dining session. Initiating a dining session may includelogging on to the memory space within the computing server devoted totable ID, a time entry of the start of the dining session and/or anindication that there is now an ongoing dining session at the tableand/or beacon associated with the table ID. In some embodiments, thedining session itself may also have an identification, which may berelated to a randomly generated number, an identification of a patron ofthat dining session, the table ID, the date and/or time of the start ofthe dining session, or a combination thereof.

Subsequent to step 606A, step 608 may include joining the new patron tothe dining session. In some embodiments, joining a new patron to thedining session may include searching for the dining session within thememory space devoted to table ID, and adding the patron, to what maybecome a list of patron(s) as other patron(s) join. In some embodiments,patron(s) may be listed using an identification of a patron, which mayinclude but is not limited to an identification related to the mobiledevice of the patron (e.g., mobile device number), a payment source ofthe patron (e.g., a primary account number), a biographicalidentification of the patron (patron name, gender, age, etc.), arandomly generated number, etc.

If, subsequent to step 604, the table or beacon associated with table IDdoes have an ongoing dining session, computing server may also performstep 708 of joining the new patron to the ongoing dining session. Insome embodiments, joining a new patron to the dining session may includesearching for the dining session within the memory space devoted totable ID, and adding the patron, to any existing list of patron(s).

Alternatively or additionally, prior to a new patron being joined to theongoing dining session if the table or beacon associated with table IDdoes have an ongoing dining session, steps 606B and 606C may includesending a request to join the new patron (“request”) to other patron(s)of the ongoing dining session, and receiving an acceptance of therequest from another patron of the ongoing dining session, respectively.Thereafter, computing server may join the new patron to the ongoingdining session (e.g., step 608).

After a new patron has been added to the dining session, step 610 mayinclude sending an interactive menu to the mobile device of the newpatron. The interactive menu may list, the food and/or beverage itemsthat may be ordered at a dining venue and the price of the food and/orbeverage items. Furthermore, the interactive menu may enable the newpatron to select food and/or beverage items to be ordered (“selectorders” or “order”).

At step 612, the computing server may receive the orders from the newpatron. The orders of a patron may be communicated by the computingserver from a patron mobile device via a network. Step 612 may furtherinclude saving the ordered items of the patron within the memory spacedevoted to the patron that may be within the memory space devoted to thedining session, within the memory space devoted to the table ID. In someembodiments, the orders received at step 612 may be initially saved in atemporary memory space, since a patron may change his or her orders.

At step 614, computing server may receive a signal from the beaconassociated with the ongoing dining session to send the orders of thepatron(s) of the ongoing dining session to the kitchen device. Thesignal may be electronic and/or a property of an electromagnetic wave(e.g., radiofrequency) sent by the beacon. In some embodiments, thesignal may include, one or more of, an identification of the beacon fromwhich the signal originates from, an indication that the signal is toinform the computing server to send the orders of the patron(s) of thedining session associated with the beacon to the kitchen device. Thebeacon may send the signal following a waiter checking in to the beaconaffixed to the table at which the patron(s) of the ongoing diningsession may be seated.

Thus, the sequence of events related to steps 612 to 616 may be asfollows. Once one or more patrons of a dining session decide theirorders and select their ordered food and/or beverage items on theinteractive menu on their mobile devices, the selected orders of eachpatron may be sent to the computing server, where the selected ordersmay be temporarily stored. Once a waiter checks-in at the beacon of thetable at which the patron(s) are seated, the beacon sends a signal tothe computing server.

Subsequent to receiving the signal from the beacon, the computing servermay, at step 616, send the order(s) of the patron(s) of the diningsession to the kitchen device. The orders may be sent to the kitchendevice electronically and/or wirelessly via a network.

In some embodiments, the computing server need not wait to receive asignal from beacon. For example, as an alternative or an addition tostep 614, the computing system may send the orders of the patron(s) ofthe dining session to the kitchen device subsequently after receivingthe orders from the patron(s).

FIG. 6B depicts an example process 600B by which the computing servermanages the status updates of an ordered food and/or beverage item andterminates a dining session.

At step 618, the computing server may receive a status update related toan ordered food and/or beverage item (“status update for an order”) fromthe kitchen device. The status update may indicate, for example, whetheran order has been placed in line for being prepared (e.g., as in“pending” 410 in FIG. 4), whether the order is currently being prepared(e.g., as in “preparing” 412 in FIG. 4), or whether the kitchenpersonnel have finished making the ordered food and/or beverage item(e.g., as in “complete” 414 in FIG. 4). The status update may beinputted by kitchen personnel into the kitchen device and the input maybe transmitted to the computing server via a network. In one embodiment,the kitchen user interface enabling an input of a status updateregarding an order may be a part of or a peripheral device of thecomputing server.

At step 620, the computing server may update its database on patronorders and statuses of patron orders (“database”) based on the receivedstatus update. In some embodiments, the database may be within thememory space devoted to the dining session in the computing server. Thedatabase within the computing server may serve as a master database,which may be replicated elsewhere or serve as a source forsynchronization of databases in other devices.

For example, at step 622, the waiter mobile device may replicate and/orsynchronize the status updates for the ordered items with that of thecomputing server. In some embodiments, the database of patron orders andstatus of patron orders within the computing server and waiter mobiledevice may be continually and/or periodically synchronized based on thestatus updates from the kitchen device. After being synchronized toreflect the status of an order the waiter mobile device may notify thewaiter, via a message on the waiter user interface. In some embodiments,if a status update pertains to an order being complete (e.g., a foodand/or beverage is ready for a waiter to pick-up from the kitchen anddeliver to the patron(s)), a message may be automatically generated bythe waiter device, for example, “Deliver Completed Items to Table” 416in FIG. 4.

At step 624, computing server may determine whether the all the orderedfood and/or beverage items of a dining session are complete. Performingstep 622 may necessitate the computing server to access its database ofpatron orders for the dining session and determine whether the statusesfor all the orders are indicated to be complete. Kitchen personnel mayinput a status update for an order as complete when the ordered foodand/or beverage is ready for a waiter to pick up from the kitchen and tobe delivered to the patron(s) who had originally ordered the food and/orbeverage.

If subsequent to step 624, the computing server determines that not allorders of a dining session have been completed, the computing server maycontinue to receive status of the ordered item from the kitchen device(e.g., as in step 618), and update its database of patron orders basedon the received status update (e.g., as in step 620), for that diningsession.

If subsequent to step 624, the computing server determines that allorders of a dining session have been completed, step 626 may includeenabling the waiter mobile device to summon bill(s) to the patron mobiledevices of the dining session. The waiter mobile device may be enabledby allowing the association of the waiter mobile device and the beaconof the dining session to result in a signal being sent from the beaconto the computing server. In one embodiment, a waiter mobile device maybe able to summon a bill only when less than all of the ordered itemshave been delivered to the patron(s) of the dining session. Theassociation of the waiter mobile device and beacon as a condition forthe summoning of the bill may help ensure that a waiter of a diningvenue delivers the completed items to patron(s) before the patron(s)receive bill(s). It is also foreseeable, however, that a patron of adining session may want to pay the bill earlier, before all the ordereditems of a dining session have arrived, for example, in a situationwhere a patron needs to leave early. Therefore, in some embodiments, apatron may also be able to summon the bill using the patron mobiledevice and/or by associating patron mobile device with the beacon.

At step 628, a computing server may receive a command to summon bill(s)to the patron mobile device(s). In some embodiments, the command may bea signal generated from the beacon as a result of the associationbetween the waiter mobile device and the beacon. In other embodiments,the command may be generated from a patron mobile device, for example,by a patron who wishes to leave earlier than the other patron(s) of thedining session from the dining event.

At step 630, the computing server may compute the bill(s) to be sent outto patron mobile device(s). Step 630 may include computing the valueamounts of the ordered food and/or beverage items for each patron of thedining session, and adding any necessary gratuities, tips, taxes, and/oroverhead expenses. The computation may be performed using a processor ofthe computing server.

At step 632, the computed bill(s) may be sent to the patron mobiledevice(s) of the dining session via a network. After patron(s) receivethe bill(s) on their respective patron mobile device(s), the patrons maysend payment transaction authorizations to the computing serverauthorizing the computing server to charge the patron(s) for therespective amounts listed on the bill(s).

Thus, at step 634, the computing server may receive payment transactionauthorization(s) from the patron(s) of the dining session. The paymenttransaction authorizations may include one or more of informationidentifying the payment source of a patron from which to withdraw fundsfor the transaction, information identifying the patron and/or patronmobile device, the amount to be transacted, and/or the itemization ofthe amount to be transacted.

At step 636, the computing server may terminate the dining sessionassociated with the patron(s) from which the payment transactionauthorizations had been received. In some embodiments, a condition forterminating the dining session may be that payment transactionauthorizations received from patron(s) satisfy the total value amountsof the service rendered, e.g., the bills sent to the patron(s) in step632 have been paid for. In other embodiments, a computing server mayterminate the dining session even if less than the total value amounthas been satisfied, for example, to allow for other incoming patron(s)to be seated at a table and have a new dining session be initiated. Insome embodiments, terminating a dining session may include one or moreof entering the time at which a dining session has ended for aparticular beacon and/or table associated with a beacon in a database.

In some embodiments, the computing server may request and/or, receivepersonal and/or identifying information of the patron (e.g., name,address, telephone number, etc.). The personal and/or identifyinginformation may be used, for example, to survey the patrons on theirdining experience, send advertising, promotional, and/or informativeitems to the patron mobile devices.

In some embodiments, patron mobile devices associated with a beacon, orassociated with beacons of the restaurant may be able to communicatewith one another (e.g., via a chat platform open to patrons of a tableor patrons of the dining venue).

Throughout this disclosure, references to components or modulesgenerally refer to items that logically can be grouped together toperform a function or group of related functions. Like referencenumerals are generally intended to refer to the same or similarcomponents. Components and modules can be implemented in software,hardware, or a combination of software and hardware. The term “software”is used expansively to include not only executable code, for examplemachine-executable or machine-interpretable instructions, but also datastructures, data stores and computing instructions stored in anysuitable electronic format, including firmware, and embedded software.The terms “information” and “data” are used expansively and includes awide variety of electronic information, including executable code;content such as text, video data, and audio data, among others; andvarious codes or flags. The terms “information,” “data,” and “content”are sometimes used interchangeably when permitted by context. It shouldbe noted that although for clarity and to aid in understanding someexamples discussed herein might describe specific features or functionsas part of a specific component or module, or as occurring at a specificlayer of a computing device (for example, a hardware layer, operatingsystem layer, or application layer), those features or functions may beimplemented as part of a different component or module or operated at adifferent layer of a communication protocol stack. Those of ordinaryskill in the art will recognize that the systems, apparatuses, devices,and methods described herein can be applied to, or easily modified foruse with, other types of equipment, can use other arrangements ofcomputing systems such as client-server distributed systems, and can useother protocols, or operate at other layers in communication protocolstacks, than are described.

It is intended that the specification and examples be considered asexemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention beingindicated by the following claims.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A computer-implemented method for managingpersonalized dining checks created by individualized ordering enabled byassociating a user device and table indicia, the method comprising:receiving, by a computing server, information identifying a first userdevice associated with a first patron and information identifying atable indicia; initiating, by the computing server, a dining sessionbased on associating the first user device and the table indicia;sending, by the computing server, a first interactive menu to the firstuser device, wherein the first interactive menu enables the first patronto select from a list of one or more dining items; receiving, by thecomputing server, a first request for a first dining item from the firstuser device, the first request including information identifying thefirst user device and the table indicia; receiving, by the computingserver, information confirming delivery of the first dining item to thefirst patron, by associating a second user device of a waiter with thetable indicia, wherein associating the second user device of the waiterwith the table indicia enables the computing server to determine atransaction amount for the requested first dining item; determining, bythe computing server, a final transaction amount for the requested firstdining item; transmitting, by the computing server, the finaltransaction amount to the first user device and enabling the first userdevice to transmit a payment authorization request; receiving, by thecomputing server, a payment transaction authorization request from thefirst user device to transact funds to pay for the final transactionamount using predetermined payment methods; and processing, by thecomputing server, the payment transaction using the payment transactionauthorization.
 22. The computer-implemented method of claim 21, whereinassociating one of the user first user device and the second user devicewith the table indicia includes: scanning or making contact, using oneof the first user device and the second user device, one or more of, anelectronic device having a bar code, a radiofrequency identification(RFID) device, a passive integrated circuit, a near field communication(NFC) device, or any device having a mechanism to relay informationidentifying a user device or information confirming the delivery ofdining items to the patrons.
 23. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 21, wherein receiving the first request and any additionalrequests for dining items and transaction amounts for the dining itemsfrom the first user device includes: sending to the first user device aninteractive menu enabling the first patron to select dining items for atransaction amount; and receiving requests for selected dining items andtransaction amounts for the selected dining items from the first userdevice and the second user device.
 24. The computer-implemented methodof claim 21, wherein the final transaction amount of the dining sessionmay be based on, one or more of: the cumulative transaction amount forthe first dining item and any other dining item requested; any additionof fees based on tax, gratuity, tip, or service; any discounts; and anypreviously-made payments by the first patron towards the finaltransaction amount.
 25. The computer-implemented method of claim 21,wherein a payment transaction authorization may include, one or more of:the final transaction amount owed by the first patron of the diningsession; the total amount that the first patron intends to pay towardsthe final transaction amount; and information identifying a preferredpayment source of the first patron.
 26. The computer-implemented methodof claim 21, wherein initiating the dining session includes: locating,within one or more of a memory and a database of the computing server,the table indicia based on information identifying the table indicia;and storing, to the one or more of the memory and the database,information identifying the first user device.
 27. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 21, further comprising:transmitting, by the computing server, the first request for the firstdining item and information identifying the table indicia to a userinterface accessible to kitchen personnel; receiving, from the userinterface accessible to kitchen personnel, status updates related to thepreparation of the first dining item and information identifying thetable indicia; transmitting the received status updates and informationidentifying the table indicia, to the second mobile device of thewaiter; and if the status update indicates that the preparation of thefirst dining item is complete, delivering, by the waiter, the requestedfirst dining item to the first patron, using the information identifyingthe table indicia.
 28. The computer-implemented method of claim 27,wherein transmitting the request for the first dining item of the firstpatron and information identifying the table indicia to a user interfaceaccessible to kitchen personnel includes: transmitting, by the computingserver, any requests to expedite, prioritize, delay, or prepare withspecial instructions, one or more of the first dining item andadditional dining items requested by the first patron.
 29. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 21, further comprising: receiving,by the computing server, information identifying a third user deviceassociated with a second patron and information identifying the tableindicia; sending, by the computing device, to the first user device arequest for permission to add the third user device to the diningsession; upon receiving acceptance of the request for permission,adding, by the computing device, the third user device to the diningsession.
 30. A system for managing personalized dining checks created byindividualized ordering enabled by associating mobile devices of patronsand waiters with table indicia, the system comprising: a data storagedevice storing instructions for managing personalized dining checkscreated by individualized ordering enabled by associating mobile devicesof patrons and waiters with table indicia; and a processor configured toexecute the instructions to perform a method including: receiving, by acomputing server, information identifying a first user device associatedwith a first patron and information identifying a table indicia;initiating, by the computing server, a dining session based onassociating the first user device and the table indicia; sending, by thecomputing server, a first interactive menu to the first user device,wherein the first interactive menu enables the first patron to selectfrom a list of one or more dining items; receiving, by the computingserver, a first request for a first dining item from the first userdevice, the first request including information identifying the firstuser device and the table indicia; receiving, by the computing server,information confirming delivery of the first dining item to the firstpatron, by associating a second user device of a waiter with the tableindicia, wherein associating the second user device of the waiter withthe table indicia enables the computing server to determine atransaction amount for the requested first dining item; determining, bythe computing server, a final transaction amount for the requested firstdining item; transmitting, by the computing server, the finaltransaction amount to the first user device and enabling the first userdevice to transmit a payment authorization request; receiving, by thecomputing server, a payment transaction authorization request from thefirst user device to transact funds to pay for the final transactionamount using predetermined payment methods; and processing, by thecomputing server, the payment transaction using the payment transactionauthorization.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein associating at leastone of the first user device and the second user device with a tableindicia includes: scanning or making contact, using at least one of thefirst user device and the second user device, one or more of, anelectronic device having a bar code, a radiofrequency identification(RFID) device, a passive integrated circuit, a near field communication(NFC) device, or any device having a mechanism to relay informationidentifying a user device or information confirming the delivery ofdining items to the patrons.
 32. The system of claim 30, whereinreceiving the first request and any additional requests for dining itemsand transaction amounts for the dining items from the first user deviceincludes: sending to the first user device an interactive menu enablingthe first patron to select dining items for a transaction amount; andreceiving requests for selected dining items and transaction amounts forthe selected dining items from the first user device.
 33. The system ofclaim 30, wherein the final transaction amount of the dining session maybe based on, one or more of: the cumulative transaction amount for thefirst dining item and any other dining item requested; any addition offees based on tax, gratuity, tip, or service; any discounts; and anypreviously-made payments by the first patron towards the finaltransaction amount.
 34. The system of claim 30, wherein a paymenttransaction authorization may include, one or more of: the finaltransaction amount owed by the first patron of the dining session; thetotal amount that the first patron intends to pay towards the finaltransaction amount; and information identifying a preferred paymentsource of the first patron.
 35. The system of claim 30, whereininitiating the dining session includes: locating, within one or more ofa memory and a database of the computing server, the table indicia basedon information identifying the table indicia; and storing, to the one ormore of the memory and the database, information identifying the firstuser device.
 36. The system of claim 30, further comprising:transmitting, by the computing server, the first request for the firstdining item and information identifying the table indicia to a userinterface accessible to kitchen personnel; receiving, from the userinterface accessible to kitchen personnel, status updates related to thepreparation of the first dining item and information identifying thetable indicia; transmitting, by the computing server, the receivedstatus updates and information identifying the table indicia, to thesecond mobile device of the waiter; and if the status update indicatesthat the preparation of the first dining item is complete, delivering,by the waiter, the requested first dining item to the first patron,using the information identifying the table indicia.
 37. The system ofclaim 36, wherein transmitting the request for the first dining item ofthe first patron and information identifying the table indicia to a userinterface accessible to kitchen personnel includes: transmitting, by thecomputing server, any requests to expedite, prioritize, delay, orprepare with special instructions, one or more of the first dining itemand additional dining items requested by the first patron.
 38. Thesystem of claim 30, further comprising: receiving, by the computingserver, information identifying a third user device associated with asecond patron and information identifying the table indicia; sending, bythe computing device, to the first user device a request for permissionto add the third user device to the dining session; upon receivingacceptance of the request for permission, adding, by the computingdevice, the third user device to the dining session.
 39. Anon-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions that, whenexecuted by a system for managing personalized dining checks created byindividualized ordering enabled by associating mobile devices of patronsand waiters with table indicia, cause the personalized dining computingsystem to perform a method for managing personalized dining checkscreated by individualized ordering enabled by associating mobile devicesof patrons and waiters with table indicia, the method including:receiving, by a computing server, information identifying a first userdevice associated with a first patron and information identifying atable indicia; initiating, by the computing server, a dining sessionbased on associating the first user device and the table indicia;sending, by the computing server, a first interactive menu to the firstuser device, wherein the first interactive menu enables the first patronto select from a list of one or more dining items; receiving, by thecomputing server, a first request for a first dining item from the firstuser device, the first request including information identifying thefirst user device and the table indicia; receiving, by the computingserver, information confirming delivery of the first dining item to thefirst patron, by associating a second user device of a waiter with thetable indicia, wherein associating the second user device of the waiterwith the table indicia enables the computing server to determine atransaction amount for the requested first dining item; determining, bythe computing server, a final transaction amount for the requested firstdining item; transmitting, by the computing server, the finaltransaction amount to the first user device and enabling the first userdevice to transmit a payment authorization request; receiving, by thecomputing server, a payment transaction authorization request from thefirst user device to transact funds to pay for the final transactionamount using predetermined payment methods; and processing, by thecomputing server, the payment transaction using the payment transactionauthorization.
 40. The machine-readable medium of claim 39, whereinassociating one of the first user device and the second user device withthe table indicia includes: scanning or making contact, using one of thefirst user device and the second user device, one or more of, anelectronic device having a bar code, a radiofrequency identification(RFID) device, a passive integrated circuit, a near field communication(NFC) device, or any device having a mechanism to relay informationidentifying a user device or information confirming the delivery ofdining items to the patrons.